Moritzburg Festival 2008: Reaches out to the young
Even though it is still months away, preparations for the Moritzburg Festival near Dresden are already well under way. Artists have been meeting to rehearse together and begin the process of bonding, which festival director Jan Vogler has described as exciting and painful at the same time. Confirmed for this year’s edition of the festival are Violinists Lidia Baich, Ilya Gringolts as well as Jan’s brother Kai Vogler, Cellist Christian Poltera, trumpet virtuoso Alison Balsom and of course Jan Vogler himself – among many others. The organisors of the Moritzburg Festival have shot an informative and personal trailer to the event, in which Jan Vogler stresses the intimacy of chamber music and the inspirational power of the many different concert venues: Moritzburg castle, a powerful place which had never been used in a musical context prior to the festival. The Frauenkirche, which holds the character of a meeting place. And finally, the transparent manufacture of Volkswagen in Dresden, a collossal palace of glass capable of hosting large-scale performances. The Moritzburg Festival will take place between 9th and 24th of August.
In the trailer, Jan Vogler reveals some interesting facts about the festival and exercises honest self-criticism: “We never really endorsed young musicians. We did have a lot of very young instrumentalists here in Moritzburg, such as Martin Stadtfeld and Baiba Skride. But really, these are already well-established artists with record deals and a fully booked calender”, Vogler admitted, “I am now trying to offer the reputation of the Moritzburg Festival to the Academy and the public”. What he means here is the Moritzburg Festival Academy, a 5-day event with courses and master classes, which will culminate in a concert by its participants on 12th August.
Even though the Moritzburg Festival will concentrate on classical core repertoire, there is always place for some 20th century composers such as Korngold and a lot of 19th century music. Astor Piazzolla, too, will play an important part in this year’s edition, with the upcoming Moritzburg Festival CD on Sony focussing on Tango tracks.
Picture by Adam Kumiszcza
Homepage: Moritzburg Festival
Homepage: Jan Vogler
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